Shared Knowledge, Built Community
Anita Sedghi FY1, Northwick Park Hospital, London Northwest NHS Trust
The AOT Conference this year focused on a diverse range of presentations, catering to trainees at all levels. The program started with a thought-provoking talk by Vivienne Ming. While pointing out the strengths of AI, she elaborated on the less discussed dangers of AI and importance of human vetting.
For trainees seeking clinical guidance from established figures, two separate panel discussions were held. One provided valuable insights into the clinical reasoning behind decisions often made by the multidisciplinary team for Head & Neck cancer cases. The other was Dipan Mistry’s captivating discussion on important Otology cases that simplified the often-challenging topic from the trainees’ perspective.
A key highlight was Deborah Quayle's approach to paediatric ENT at a district general hospital (DGH). She discussed practical considerations and resource allocation within different healthcare settings with some specific case examples of paediatric emergencies.
Moreover, the training update was a highlight for attendees, offering valuable information about exams and portfolio points. Charlie Hall and Justin Murphy shared the latest changes to applications and trainees were able to get clarifications on specific areas of concern and ask questions.
This was preceded by Lizzie Kershaw sharing some lessons learned as a new consultant and impressive input into the portfolio and interview process delivered by Mohammad Adeel.
Beyond the academic program, the conference fostered a sense of community. The pre-conference activities included Go Karting and authentic Thai tapas preceded by a game of darts. The post-conference dinner included an unexpected stand-up comedy by Henry Michael that broke the ice among attendees. 
These activities fostered a sense of closeness and allowed for informal discussions among colleagues and great networking opportunities.
The dedication of trainees was celebrated during the prize ceremony. Ritika Gera secured the Best Poster Prize for her work on ‘Improving epistaxis management using the ENT UK Epistaxis Guidelines’. Rosalind Di Traglia was awarded the Best Oral Presentation Prize for her project on ‘Retracted papers in ENT’. It was incredible to see the AOT celebrate great work. From medical students to senior registrars – everyone was included.
Overall, this was a memorable experience, offering a potent blend of academic excellence, engaging social events and well-deserved recognition for rising stars in the field. This conference left us inspired and we will be looking forward to AOT 2025 in Brighton. 
Photographs:
Top: Group of conference attendees from all levels of training
Middle: Dr Michael’s comedy performance during dinner
Below: Go Karting before conference
